Tambocerus cholas, Viraktamath, 2012

Viraktamath, C. A., 2012, Seven new species of the leafhopper genus Tambocerus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from the Indian subcontinent, Zootaxa 3385 (1), pp. 43-61 : 45-49

Tambocerus cholas sp. nov.

Figs 3, 4 , 32–39 .

Ochraceous with brown markings. Vertex with one small round spot and more lateral, larger quadrangular spot on either side of median line anteriorly, dark brown. Face, pronotum, scutellum legs, forewings with very few brown maculae.

Head slightly narrower than pronotum. Vertex 1.7 times as wide between eyes as median length. Fore tibia with dorsal setal formula 1+5.

Male genitalia. Pygofer narrowed caudally, with four macrosetae on dorsocaudal area, posteriorly rounded with serrated margin both dorsally and ventrally, ventral serration extending to more than 0.33 posterior length of ventral margin, a few hair-like setae on ventral half. Subgenital plate with apical prolongation and submarginal row of macrosetae and hair-like marginal setae. Style with short thumb-like apical apophysis, apical lobe short, not broader laterally. Connective with stem relatively short compared to other species of Tambocerus from the subcontinent. Aedeagus with short bilobed dorsal apodeme, atrium projected ventrally, shaft slightly thicker at base then narrowed and of uniform width throughout, curved dorsally, lateral margin in posterior view serrated, serrations at long intervals in basal half compared to those on apical region.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Measurements. Male 5.4 mm long, 1.7 mm wide across eyes.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♂, INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Thandigudi 1311m, 10 o 18’ N 10 o 38’ E, 18.v.2010, A.N. Reddy, Hand collection ( UASB).

Remarks. T. cholas sp. nov. can at once be recognized from all other known species of Tambocerus by the ventrally produced atrium of aedeagus. It also differs from T. furcostylus sp. nov. (see below) with which it shares the four black spots on vertex, in not having the apical aphophysis of the male style prolonged.

Five male and one female specimens from Kodaikanal ( BMNH) match this species (pers. com. M.D. Webb) but have a single rather than double row of macrosetae basally on the subgenital plate .

Etymology. This species is named after the Chola dynasty that ruled parts of southern India from the 3 rd century

BC to the 13 th century AD.

Figures

FIGURES 1–12. Dorsal and lateral views of species of Tambocerus. 1&2. T. acutus sp. nov.; 3&4. T. cholas sp. nov.; 5&6. T. daii sp. nov.; 7&8. T. furcostylus sp. nov.; 9&10. T. viraktamathi Rao; 11&12. T.zahniseri sp. nov.

FIGURES 32–39. Male genitalia of Tambocerus cholas sp. nov.: 32. Genital capsule, lateral view; 33. Apex of pygofer lobe, lateroventral view; 34. Pygofer, dorsal view; 35. Valve and subgenital plate, ventral view; 36. Style, dorsal view; 37. Connective and aedeagus, dorsal view; 38. Aedeagus, lateral view; 39. Aedeagus, posterior view.